Are you struggling to cope with the pain and discomfort of fibromyalgia? If so, a massage chair could be the perfect tool to help you manage your symptoms. You don’t need to suffer anymore!
In this article, we’ll discuss how a massage chair can help with fibromyalgia and provide a complete guide for finding the best one for you.
Massage chairs offer many benefits to people with all sorts of conditions, including fibromyalgia. Massaging chair technology has been developed over the years and they are now able to provide targeted relief as well as complete relaxation in a comfortable, private environment. This guide will explain the benefits of massage chairs for fibromyalgia sufferers and how they can be used to reduce stress, improve range of motion, and increase general well-being.
There are three types of massage chairs available: 1) Shiatsu massage chairs use motorized rollers and pressure points to mimic the same techniques used by professional masseuses; 2) Robotic massage chairs use a combination of airbags and motors for a more precise massage; 3) Reclining massage chairs provide more support than other types of chairs as they recline into a comfortable position before beginning the massage.
No matter which type you opt for, each should come with adjustable options such as heat therapy settings, speed control settings, vibration intensity settings and multiple airbag configurations to personalize your session according to your specific needs. Additionally, some higher-end models feature music-sync features which allow you to relax further while receiving a treatment through both auditory and tactile input.
Understanding Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, concentration and memory difficulties, sleep disorders, and sensitivity to touch, sound and light. There is no single definitive cause of fibromyalgia but likely involves a combination of biological, psychological, genetic and environmental factors.
Often accompanied by fatigue, fibromyalgia can make even routine daily tasks extremely difficult. Restful sleep is often poor. People with Fibromyalgia suffer from an amplified sense pain; therefore normal activities like walking or sitting can become painful experiences.
The exact cause of Fibromyalgia remains unknown, but the condition has been linked to abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that can lead to inefficient processing of pain signals from the muscles. Because of this finding treatments for Fibromyalgia which focus on relieving pain involve receiving regular massage therapy sessions as a way to reduce muscle tension associated with this condition. Massage chairs eliminate the need for massage therapists; allowing individuals suffering from Fibromyalgia to experience regular massage therapy in their own home at any time they please without having to make appointments or spend additional money on visits to massage therapists.
Definition of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and complex condition whose cause is still not yet fully understood by doctors. People who suffer from fibromyalgia experience pain and discomfort that can vary in intensity at different times. The most common areas of pain are around the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and arms.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, trouble sleeping, headache, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet and difficulty concentrating. People with fibromyalgia also tend to have an overactive nervous system that makes them more sensitive to pain and pressure.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia but treatments can help manage the symptoms and make life easier for someone living with it. Massage therapy has been shown to be very beneficial in reducing the ongoing pain associated with fibromyalgia and therapeutic massage chairs can provide continuous relief with no interruption.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia affects people differently and symptoms can range from mild to severe. However, the most common symptoms reported include:
– Pain: Pain is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia and can be chronic, stabbing, radiating, dull or throbbing in nature. It can affect the entire body or certain parts such as back, neck and shoulders.
– Fatigue: People with fibromyalgia may experience extreme fatigue that does not get better after rest or sleep.
– Cognitive problems: Patients with fibromyalgia often have difficulty concentrating on tasks and retaining information (also known as “fibro fog”).
– Sleep disturbances: People with fibromyalgia usually struggle to get into a stage of deep sleep known as slow-wave sleep and often suffer from daytime drowsiness due to this insomnia.
– Stiffness: Fibromyalgia sufferers may feel tightness or stiffness in their muscles upon rising in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time.
– Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Fibromyalgia patients are also at risk for developing IBS—a disorder characterized by abdominal pain and constipation or diarrhea.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and can be aggravated by stress, exercise, cold/humid weather and changes in barometric pressure. The many possible causes of fibromyalgia include genetics, physical trauma, infections, alterations in brain chemistry and hormones, persistent mental stress and imbalances of chemicals called neurotransmitters.
A recent study suggests that the condition may be linked to abnormalities in the way pain signals are processed in the brain. Some studies have found that people with fibromyalgia tend to produce lower levels of serotonin and other “feel-good” hormones associated with pleasure. This could mean that your body impacts how it interprets and responds to outside stimuli such as sound or touch.
It is important to remember that each individual’s experience with pain is unique so the exact cause or combination of causes may not be known or understood for everyone.
Benefits of Massage Chair for Fibromyalgia
Massage chairs have shown to offer a great deal of health benefits when used for Fibromyalgia, including both physical and psychological relief. Massages help by relaxing muscles to alleviate pain, reduce muscle tension, improve circulation and assist in the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller). Additionally, massage chairs are adjustable and can be customized to suit a person’s individual needs.
Regular use of a massage chair for Fibromyalgia provides many advantages that cannot be obtained from regular massages or manual therapy. Some of these advantages include:
Decrease in muscle spasms
Reduced muscle stiffness
Pain relief from fibro-related aches and pains
Increased circulation throughout the body
Reduced stress levels
Sleep aid
Improved mental clarity
Increased range of motion in muscles
Relieves Pain
A massage chair can be a valuable tool for relieving pain associated with fibromyalgia. It is believed that the comfortable warmth generated by the massage chair encourages the release of endorphins, nature’s own opiates. These chemical messengers travel to your brain and bring feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Fibromyalgia often causes intense muscle pain, inflammation and fever-like symptoms due to a decrease in blood flow to affected areas of your body. The soothing comfort provided by a massage chair can help make those symptoms easier to tolerate, decreasing your overall discomfort and improving your quality of life.
Additionally, massage chairs are equipped with specialized settings that target particular areas of the body, such as stretching programs, shiatsu kneading simulations and air massage systems. By targeting specific spots, these settings can help improve flexibility and ensure that you fully relax during your session.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
It is believed that one of the primary causes of Fibromyalgia is a disruption in the body’s homeostasis. A massage chair helps to reduce stress and anxiety, allowing the body to relax and restore its balance by lowering the stress hormone cortisol and improving circulation. Endorphins are produced which lead to a feeling of relaxation allowing your muscles and joints to relax. The increased circulation also helps reduce inflammation and provides relief for stiff joints as well as increasing oxygen to sore or painful areas.
The vibrating actions from massage chairs also help ease tight muscles, improve mobility, and promote blood flow.
Improves Sleep
The soothing action of massage chairs can help to reduce the intense physical pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia. By relaxing tense and tight muscles, the body has a greater chance of finding restorative sleep.
Additionally, the sensory stimulation experienced during the massage process helps to create clear neural pathways in the brain which can lead to better sleep cycles. Improved sleep means improved energy levels and a better quality of life for those living with fibromyalgia.
Features to Consider When Choosing a Massage Chair for Fibromyalgia Patients
When choosing a massage chair for fibromyalgia, it’s important to consider the features and functions that will best meet your needs. Consider the therapeutic benefits that are offered, as well as if the chair provides enough coverage for your body to receive a full massage experience.
- Whole Body Coverage: It’s important that you find a massage chair that covers the entire body, from head to toe. This includes areas like the neck, shoulders, back and legs. You want a massage chair that has enough space and cushioned padding to provide comfortable and complete coverage when in use.
- Different Massage Techniques: Because each individual may respond differently to various massage techniques, checkout chairs with different types of massages including shiatsu and Swedish treatments offered in different seat positions. Make sure you understand all of the techniques available within the product portfolio before purchasing so you can select a chair equipped with your preferred massaging styles instead of being locked into one type of massage experience.
- Adjustable Intensity/ Pressure Levels: Having adjustable pressure/intensity level options is key for those suffering from fibromyalgia as some areas can be particularly sensitive or require more or less pressure depending on symptom severity and pain level changes day-to-day or week-to-week. Look for products with at least two intensity settings so you can modify your massage session accordingly if needed during your treatment sessions.
4 Proper Lumbar Support: The lumbar area is especially vulnerable when it comes to fibromyalgia pain, so make sure whatever chair you choose has adequate lumbar support designed specifically with this area in mind while sitting in it for extended periods of time getting massaged by your device (adjustability is an added bonus).
5 Heat Settings: Heat provides soothing relief to sore muscles which helps reduce stiffness associated with many fibromyalgia symptoms, so consider products which have either built-in warmers or have heating accessories included (if the model doesn’t come fully equipped).
Type of Massage
A massage chair includes a programmed massage feature that offers a variety of massage techniques, including shiatsu, kneading, tapping and rolling. It’s important to find the type of massage that works best for your body.
A shiatsu massage uses deep pressure to provide relief along energy pathways in the body—stretching the muscles by using pressure applied with hands, elbows and feet. Kneading is a circular movement that helps to reduce tension and knots in the muscles. Tapping provides rapid percussion movements over specific problem areas and rolling is similar to having a rolling pin apply pressure over certain areas.
All of these massage techniques can be beneficial for people living with fibromyalgia.
Chair Design and Comfort
There are many features that make a massage chair unique and ideal for those with fibromyalgia. Massage chairs have a reclining feature which allows users to relax the back, neck and shoulder tension by reclining the chair. This helps relieve tension that is caused by poor posture because the chair supports your body when you are in an upright position.
The massage chairs with lumbar support help to support and also reduce lower back pain by providing additional cushioning for comfort.
The Inada massage chairs also feature additional accessories, such as heat therapy, airbags and many others, which can provide further relief from pain or allow deeper relaxation. Heat therapy has been proven to help individuals with fibromyalgia cope better with pain, while airbags offer targeted compression massage that increases circulation and reduces muscle spasms in areas prone to them — like muscles around joints — while promoting relaxation of both body and mind.
Furthermore, these chairs come in all kinds of styles and colours making it easier for users to find one that suits their décor or preference.
Customization Options
Massage chairs come with a variety of customization options to give you the most out of your massage therapy session. You can choose from manual or automatic options, depending on what fits your needs and budget.
Manual options allow you to customize the intensity of your massage by choosing a focus area and changing the intensity according to your needs. For example, if you want more pressure in one particular area, you can easily do so via manual customizations options.
Automatic customization options allow the chair to detect how much pressure is needed based on the specific area being massaged so that it responds accordingly. This helps ensure that you are getting the perfect amount of pressure when needed and avoids overworking any particular part of the body.
Another useful feature for those with fibromyalgia is heat therapy, which helps alleviate pain and stiffness in areas affected by fibromyalgia. Some massage chairs also come with built-in music therapy or aromatherapy functions to help further relax the user during their massage session.
All these customization options help you get maximum benefit from massage therapy — helping reduce stress levels, improve circulation, and alleviate pain caused by fibromyalgia — allowing for improved physical health and allowing for an overall enhanced quality of life for those living with fibromyalgia.
Conclusion
At this point, you have learned a great deal about the effects of massage therapy on fibromyalgia. You know that massage has been proven to reduce symptoms and improve overall quality of life for those suffering from chronic pain, fatigue and stress-related health issues.
Massage chairs provide a convenient, comfortable way to experience regular massage treatments at home or in the office. With the right amount of use and customization, they can become an integral part of your plan for managing fibromyalgia pain and other physical and mental ailments.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about how a massage chair can help with fibromyalgia- we hope that this guide has been helpful in equipping you with knowledge that you can use to make your life more comfortable and enjoyable.
FAQS
Do massage chairs help fibromyalgia?
Massage chairs may provide relief for fibromyalgia symptoms by reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.
What kind of massage is best for fibromyalgia?
A gentle massage that focuses on the affected areas can be beneficial for fibromyalgia. Techniques such as Swedish massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy may be helpful.
Do massage chairs help with inflammation?
Massage chairs may help with inflammation by reducing muscle tension and increasing circulation. However, they are not a substitute for medical treatment for inflammation.
Are massage chairs good for nerve pain?
Massage chairs may provide temporary relief for nerve pain by reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for long-term treatment of nerve pain.
Is it OK to sit in a massage chair everyday?
It’s generally safe to use a massage chair daily, but it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and not overuse it.
Does vibration help fibromyalgia?
There is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of vibration therapy for fibromyalgia. However, some people may find it helpful for reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation.
What is the best movement for fibromyalgia?
Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and yoga can be beneficial for fibromyalgia. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best exercise regimen for individual needs.
What is the pressure point of fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia does not have a specific pressure point. However, trigger points in various muscles may be tender and contribute to pain and discomfort.
How long should you sit on a massage chair?
It’s recommended to use a massage chair for 15-30 minutes at a time, up to three times per day. However, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and not overuse it.
Who shouldn’t use a massage chair?
Massage chairs are generally safe for most people, but those with certain medical conditions such as fractures, deep vein thrombosis, and severe osteoporosis should avoid using them. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before using a massage chair if you have any medical concerns.
See Also:
- Best osaki massage chair
- Best heated massage office chair
- Best massage office chair
- Best budget massage chair
- Best massage gaming chair
